Monday, September 23, 2013

The Road to Overriding Chris Christie

The effort to override Christie is still an uphill battle: In the
Assembly, advocates need 12 more lawmakers to vote for an override than
those who voted for the original bill. Three more votes are needed in
the Senate.

And the clock is ticking, with the legislative session
ending in January.

But with new pledges to vote for an override — and a lame-duck
Legislative session approaching — there are signs the gap is shrinking.

State Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union), a supporter of same-sex
marriage, says he has been given commitments for enough votes in the
Senate, and lawmakers and advocates are still pressing to find them in
the Assembly.

In the lower house, Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth) missed
the vote on the bill last year. He has committed to voting for an
override.

Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi (R-Bergen), also absent during the vote,
said she would vote in favor of an override, indicating she had been
swayed by the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the Defense
of Marriage Act.